Report on the Impact of Abortion Restrictions on Intimate Partner Violence and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

A recent study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research highlights a significant increase in intimate partner violence (IPV) in regions of the United States enforcing near-total abortion bans. This report examines the findings of the study with an emphasis on the implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Key Findings of the Study

1. Abortion restrictions correlate with a 7 to 10 percent increase in intimate partner violence.
2. Women who are low-income and less educated experience a disproportionately higher risk of physical, sexual, and intimate partner violence.
3. Financial strain caused by the necessity to travel for abortion services exacerbates vulnerability.
4. Reproductive coercion is a significant factor, where abusive partners restrict contraceptive access or threaten women seeking reproductive health services.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Increased intimate partner violence negatively impacts physical and mental health outcomes for women.
• Barriers to reproductive health services undermine efforts to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• Abortion restrictions contribute to gender-based violence, undermining women’s rights and empowerment.
• Reproductive coercion limits women’s autonomy over their reproductive choices, perpetuating gender inequality.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Low-income and less educated women face heightened risks, exacerbating social and economic inequalities.
• Financial burdens related to abortion access disproportionately affect marginalized populations.

Expert Insights

Bilge Erten, Economics Professor at Northeastern University and co-author of the study, emphasized the heightened vulnerability of disadvantaged women:

“For more vulnerable women, we see a particularly stark increase in their risk of experiencing both physical, sexual, and intimate partner violence.”

Erten further explained that abortion restrictions can trap women in abusive relationships due to reproductive coercion and financial constraints, limiting their ability to make autonomous reproductive decisions.

Kira-Lynn Ferderber, Outreach Educator at Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, corroborated these findings from her frontline experience:

“Every rapist in Florida, every wife beater in Florida is hoping that these bans stay, that the bans spread, that they continue, that they become more and more extreme.”

Regional Context: Florida

• Although Florida was not included in the study data, the state enforces a six-week abortion ban widely described as extreme.
• This legislative environment may contribute to increased risks of intimate partner violence and reproductive coercion in the state.

Conclusion

The study’s findings underscore the critical intersection between reproductive rights and the Sustainable Development Goals. Abortion restrictions not only increase intimate partner violence but also hinder progress toward achieving gender equality, good health, and reduced inequalities. Policymakers and stakeholders must consider these impacts to promote comprehensive strategies aligned with the SDGs to protect women’s health, rights, and well-being.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article discusses the impact of abortion restrictions on women’s health, including intimate partner violence and reproductive coercion, which directly affect physical and mental health.
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The issues of intimate partner violence, reproductive coercion, and restrictions on abortion access relate to gender-based violence and women’s empowerment.
3. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • The article highlights that low-income women are particularly vulnerable, indicating a connection to poverty and its impact on access to health services and safety.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.7: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including family planning, information and education.
   • Target 3.4: Reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health and well-being (implied through addressing intimate partner violence).
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
   • Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.
3. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • Target 1.4: Ensure that all men and women have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article

1. Indicator for SDG 3.7: Proportion of women of reproductive age who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods.
2. Indicator for SDG 5.2: Proportion of women aged 15-49 years subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months.
3. Indicator for SDG 5.6: Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use and reproductive health care.
4. Implied Indicator related to SDG 1.4: Proportion of population living below the national poverty line, by sex and age (to understand vulnerability of low-income women affected by abortion restrictions).
5. Additional Indicator Implied: Rate of intimate partner violence increase (7 to 10 percent increase as found in the study).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wmnf.org